My Career At Blackpool: Alan Wright

9 December 2014

Left-Back Looks Back On Time In Tangerine

In April 1989 Alan Wright made his professional debut for Blackpool and went on to make more than 100 appearances for the club before joining Blackburn Rovers in October 1991. Here he reflects on his time as a Seasider.

What can you remember about your debut?

I can remember myself being very young, I think I was 15, 16 at the time. I came on for the last seven minutes against Chesterfield at home and we were winning 2-0. That’s how the game finished but it felt like it was a million miles an hour. Nevertheless, it was my debut and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you could re-live one game from your career in tangerine, which one would you choose?

It would be the play-off final when Dave Bamber unfortunately missed a penalty to get us promoted. If we could play that one again then we’d have that but with a different outcome.

In terms of dressing room banter, what was the best prank you witnessed?

There are a few that you can’t really talk about. Mike Davies and Gary Briggs were always messing around. The ones I remember are quite rude so I can’t really talk about them.

On reflection, what achievement are you most proud of?

Probably the fact that I made my debut so young and that I was given the opportunity so young. Also the good grounding at the start of my career because I learnt an awful lot in the time I was there, from the age of 10 or 11 to 19 or 20. The learning I got under Sam Ellis was fantastic, as well as under Jack Chapman who was the youth team coach at the time. It was a good grounding for what I went on to do in my career.

TEAM-MATES…

Best player you played with…

I played with a few but I’d say Trevor Sinclair. Shaun Elliott was a technical footballer as a centre-half and I used to enjoy playing alongside Colin Mevthen and Mike Walsh, guys with a lot of experience. I also played behind David Eyres and he’ll tell you that he made me, but I helped to make him as well. Those were the standouts for me.

Worst trainer…

I don’t really think we had any because you weren’t really allowed to, it was get on with your job and work hard because Sam would tell you about it if you didn’t. He didn’t let you get away with anything.

Unsung hero…

I think people like Mike Davies and Ian Gore. They were there all the time and gave fantastic commitment to the club and never really got the rewards or recognition that they deserved.

The Joker…

Ginge (Mike Davies) was always up to no good. He was a really funny guy.

Who did you see as most likely to become a successful manager in future…

You’d have said people like Paul Groves who has gone on to do well coaching because he knew what he wanted to do. Mike Walsh also had a little spell managing. I wouldn’t have put Trevor as being a coach or manager but he’s now doing a little bit up at Lancaster.